Aeroplane



H. .l. PARKER.

AEROPLANE.

`APPLICATION FILED 1ULY17, 1917.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WI TN ESSES @M UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE. i

HARRY J. PARKER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TC SIDNEY XVILLIAMS, OF

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,

AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY J. PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to anv improvement in aeroplanes, and one of the objects is to arrange the planes or wings in such a manner as to present at all times the maximum amount of plane surface to prevent the fall of the machine.

Another object of my invention is to mount the planes upon the frame in such a manner that the frame will, at all times, maintain substantially a vertical position.

A further object of my invention is to construct the rudder in such a manner as to completely control the guiding of the machine in all directions by one steeringhandle.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the frame and plane mounting, taken on line 3-3 of Fig 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal sections through the rudder portion taken at right- Y angles to each other;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the steering-mechanism g F 7 is a detail view of the frame bearing;

F ig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of one of i the planes or wings.

A, represents a substantially rectangular frame, consisting of upright members 1 and 2, and horizontal members 3 and 4. `5, 5, indicate the usual ground wheels attached to the lower front and rear portion of the frame. Extending longitudinally of the upper member 4, 4, of the frame is a cylindrical frame B, fixed against rotation with respect to the main frame, and consists of a plurality of annular bands 6, 7, 8 and 9, the outer bands 6 and 9 being preferably provided with outwardly-extending flanges 10 and 11, said plurality of bands being connected together by longitudinal strips l2.

ilfounted in the forward end of the frame, and below the center thereof, is a drive motor 13,- te which a propeller 14 is suitably con nected. 15 indicates a fuel tank arranged at the rear, and above the center of the cylindrical frame.

12 indicates a rotating tubular frame provided at its ends with upwardly-extending flanges. Extending radially from the cylindrical frame B are a plurality of equally spaced planes or wings 17, secured thereto by suitable lugs 18. These planes are braced at their outer ends by suitable wires 19, 19, running circumferentially thereof. planes or wings, as disclosed in Fig. 8, preferably consist of an outer frame, shaped as disclosed, having arranged longitudinally thereof a pluralit f of ribs 20, which are covered by suitable material 21.

unieral 22 indicates the pilot-seat arranged at the lower forward end of the frame, and directly below the propeller.

It will thus be seen that the tubular frame and planes or wings are free to rotate with respect to the main frame, thereby presenting at all times a maximum amount of plane surface for supporting the weight of the machine. Furthermore, with this construction, the operators seat always remains in a substantially vertical position, owing to the fact that the frame, engine, and operators seat are well below the center of the planes.

As noted in Fig. 1, the longitudinal strips 12 are adapted to extend rearwardly of the cylindrical bands and support a rudder C. This rudder consists preferably of a hollow tube 23, having arranged radially thereof a plurality of fins 24, 24, which likewise are braced at their outer ends by suitable wires 25 running circumferentially thereof. Centrally arranged within the tube 23 is a band 26, to which is pivotally connected a pair of supporting members 27, .27, which extend outwardly from the tube, the free ends thereof being bent at right-angles to the body portion which is secured to a block 29,

These pivotally connected on a vertical axis 30, at

right-angles to the pivotal support of the tube portion of the rudder, to the rear end end of the rearwardly-extending strips 12, 12, by suitable trunnion-plates 31. Brace 32 extending downwardly from the supporting strips 12, 12, is adapted to further stilfen the frame structure.

As will be seen, this mounting affords a universal movement of the rudder, and by means of a single steering lever 33, which .shown in Fig. 6) is a frame 34,

adapted to forwardend' of the tube 23, as clearly shown in Fig. Il. j

husit will be seen that,las the steeringhandle 33 is moved longitudinally or backward Iand Jforward of the machine, the rudder *will be moved vertically about the aXis arranged centrally of the tube, thereby ycausing .the machine to travel in an upward 'or downward direction, while the transverse cross-arms 39, 39, are connected to similar guide wires 4:3 and 44, which are in turn connected to the outer end of the transverse members 28, thereby making it possible to cause a lateral movement of the rudder by the lateral movement of the steering-'handle 33, which in turn will cause the machine to travel in a transverse direction, as desired. It will be seen that this arrangement of steering greatly simplifies the manipulation of a machine, inasmuch yas the handle is moved in exactly the direction in which it is desired to have the machine travel.

y1..'ln-an aerial apparatus, the combina tion'with a hollow main frame, the body portion of which is provided'with-flanged members,'a portion of said main frame extending rearwardly of the body portion and provided with a universally movable rudder, of a substantially rectangular frame suspended from the body portion Vof the main frame, a cylinder rotatably ljournale'd on said bodyportion between .the .flanged members and vprovided with a plurality'of radially-projecting planes, Vand means carried upon-said rectangular frame for actuating the universally movable rudder.

`2.1In an aerial apparatus, the combination of Va skeleton frame the body portion of which consists of a plurality of annular bands secured together by a plurality of longitudinal strips,v the outermost annular bandsbeing flanged, said longitudinal strips adapted'to extend rearwardly of said body portion, a substantially rectangular frame suspended from the body portion of said skeleton frame, va tubular frame provided with a plurality ofradially projecting planes rotatably mounted upon said body portion and held thereon4 by said flanged bands, propelling means mounted upon said skeleton framer and withinY said tubular frame, a` universally movable V'rudder mounted rearwardly of' said skeleton frame, and actuating means for said rudder carried by the lower portion of said rectangular frame.

3. In an aerial apparatus, the combination of a main frame, the body portion of which is composed of a plurality of annular bands connected together bya plurality 'of longitudinally extending strips, the outer free ends of which? are adaptedto bebrought together, aV universally movable rudder pivotally mounted Von the outer ends thereof', a substantially rectangular frame suspended from the body portion of said main frame, a tubular portion'rotatably mounted upon said body portion, and` providedwith a plurality of radially-arranged planes,'propel ling means arranged within the ybody portion oi'said main frame, a propeller extending forwardly of the radially arranged planes, and means carried upon the :rectangular frame for actuating said rudder.

4l. ln an aerial apparatus, the combination with. a hollow`main frame, the body portion of whichv is Vprovided with annular flanged members, said main frame extending Vrearwardly of the body portion and provided with a universally movable rudder consisting of a drum having a plurality of fins projecting radiallytherefrom, of a substantially rectangular frame suspended from the body portion of the main frame, a cylinder rotatably journaled on the said body portion between the flanged members and provided with a plurality of radially-projecting planes, and means carried on said rectangular Vframe for actuating the universally movable rudder. v

5. In an aerial apparatus, the combination with a skeleton frame, which consists of a plurality or" annular bands secured together by a plurality of longitudinal strips, the outermost annular bands beinglflanged, said longitudinal strips beingi'adapted to extend rearwardly ofsaid body portion, of a substantially rectangular frame suspended from the body portion of said skeleton frame, a tubular frame providedwith av plurality of radially projecting planes rotatably mounted upon -said body portion and held therein by said flanged bands, a universally movable rudder consisting or" a drum having a plurality of fins projecting radially therefrom, means carried upon said rectangular frame for actuating the rudder, and propelling means mounted within said skeleton frame.

In testimony whereof 'I allix'my signature.

HARRY J. PARKER. 

